Ryan Garza | The Flint JournalCity of Flint Mayor Dayne Walling talks with the press about how the city is facing a projected $5 million deficit this year that will require spending cuts in the short term and some form of a tax increase in the long term to avoid further public safety cuts while giving the quarterly budget update on Tuesday at Flint City Hall.

FLINT, Michigan — The city is facing a projected $5 million deficit this year that will require spending cuts in the short term and some form of a tax increase in the long term to avoid further public safety cuts, city officials said today.

Dozens of police and/or fire personnel could be laid off within the next several months if the city doesn't balance its budget through a combination of employee concessions and other cuts, Flint Mayor Dayne Walling said.

Walling this morning laid out his proposed five-point budget plan, which includes city service cuts, employee compensation cuts, personnel reductions through early retirement, a tax increase and borrowing money to cover past deficits. (UPDATE: See details of proposed plan).

In the short term, Walling is asking the city's six employee unions to agree to concessions of 10 percent or more within the next 30 days. He is also expected to issue an executive order limiting employee overtime, he said.

A tentative agreement needs to be reached by Nov. 19 to avoid layoffs, he said.

"Lack of cooperation will have serious consequences for our community," Walling said. "Times are tough but working together we can put the city and community on a solid foundation."

Many in the community are concerned about the city's level of public safety staffing since last year's budget cuts led to the layoffs of 46 police officers and 23 firefighters. The firefighters were later brought back with federal grant funds. (UPDATE: Walling discusses possible public safety tax).

The city's projected $5 million deficit is on top of an estimated $20 million in past deficits.

Ryan Garza | The Flint JournalCity of Flint Mayor Dayne Walling talks with the press about how the city is facing a projected $5 million deficit this year that will require spending cuts in the short term and some form of a tax increase in the long term to avoid further public safety cuts while giving the quarterly budget update on Tuesday at Flint City Hall.